Gwangju International Center

▶ Date: January 26th 

▶ Topic: “Whose art is it anyway ?The problem of ancient antiquities?”

▶ Speaker: Christian Beer (UK)

▶ Review Writer: Bakhodirjon Komilov (Baha) (GIC Talk Volunteer)

The ancient Greek culture was the most brilliant in its time and remains forever in our present perception. The use of human reason, starting from the Meletus school, was able to develop philosophy, art, and politics through Socrates, Aristotle, Plato and Sophist. And this is now the source of epistemology that moves around the world.

The magnificence of art doesn’t differ. The architectural style of Greece has long been dominant in architectural style as it continues to appear in western architecture. It is even appeared on the stone pavilion of Deoksugung, which was built in 1910, as a neoclassical style of Greek classical style.

One of the most representative buildings in Greece is Parthenon status which is at the Acropolis. This Parthenon temple was completely destroyed in 1687 and brought it by Lord Elgin, who a British Ambassador in Istanbul, Turkey. Therefore, it is now on display at the British Museum in London under the name 'Elgin Marble'.

Recently, Greece has been making moves to recover the 'Elgin Marvel'.

Should the UK return art pieces to Greece? And Whose cultural property is it? Why or why not?

Today's lectures answers to these questions?

What is cultural property? What does it mean that the museum in Brazil is burning? And many objects have disappeared in Korean news, and when the Namdaemun was burned, the whole nation feels grievous and rebuilds at the country level?

Cultural properties are not created in the short time. It does not simply show the past of mankind. Cultural assets contain the unique identity of the country. At the time when the Parthenon was built, there was no 'Greece' as a state we knew, and even though it was in the form of United States, it cannot be denied that the culture remains in the present Greek culture. Therefore, we feel grievous about the Brazilian museum fire case and the Namdaemun fire case.

It is not acceptable to take the cultural assets from other countries, which contains their frost and spirit, and not returning it back. They argue that they have right to have, but It make me think that all their arguments are not adequate.

Before listening to this talk, I have never paid attention to this issue. However, after his speech, it was a great opportunity for everyone to understand what cultural assets mean to us, why these problems arise in the international community, what causes are and how to solve them.